Patents Examined by Gary Hartmann
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Patent number: 9629299Abstract: A front attachment control system includes a selective control valve controlled by a joystick in a utility vehicle operator station, a diverter valve connected to the selective control valve and having a diverter switch that switches the diverter valve between a first position for an attachment tilt function and a second position for an attachment angling function controlled by the joystick. A front attachment with an angling cylinder includes a pair of hydraulic lines connectable to the diverter valve, and an actuator that engages the diverter switch as the hydraulic lines are connected to the diverter valve to switch the diverter valve to the second position.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2014Date of Patent: April 25, 2017Assignee: DEERE & COMPANYInventors: Larry D. Swanson, Daniel Knight
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Patent number: 9631329Abstract: A slipform paving machine includes a laser source for generating a laser reference plane. At least two laser receivers are mounted on the machine and intersect the laser reference plane. Inputs from the laser receivers are utilized to control distortion of the frame of the slipform paver machine.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2014Date of Patent: April 25, 2017Assignee: Wirtgen GmbHInventors: Matthias Fritz, Martin Dahm, Martin Lenz
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Patent number: 9631378Abstract: A hydrostatically power self-propelled concrete finishing trowel has at least two coolers in a cooling system of the machine's hydraulic circuit. In the most typical case in which the first cooler is a closed loop oil cooler, the second cooler may take the form of an open loop oil cooler disposed in a flow path connecting one or more low-pressure outlets of the hydrostatic drive system to a reservoir. The closed loop oil cooler actively drops the temperature within the trowel's hydrostatic drive system, while the open loop oil cooler supplements that cooling by reducing the oil temperature in the reservoir.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2016Date of Patent: April 25, 2017Assignee: Wacker Neuson Production Americas LLCInventors: Scott Grahl, Michael Jenkins
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Patent number: 9622400Abstract: An agricultural tillage implement includes a main section including a hitch extending in a travel direction, a plurality of foldable wing sections coupled with the main section, a plurality of ground engaging tilling elements, a plurality of wheel assemblies and a control system. The tilling elements are coupled to the main section and wing sections. Each of the wheel assemblies include an actuator. The wheel assemblies include a first plurality of wheel assemblies associated with the main section and a second plurality of wheel assemblies associated with the plurality of wing sections. The actuators of the first plurality of wheel assemblies being independent of the actuators of the second plurality of wheel assemblies. The control system is configured to actuate the actuators to effect a profile minimizing operation of the foldable wing sections when the implement is being transitioned into a transport mode.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2014Date of Patent: April 18, 2017Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLCInventors: Matthew R. Sudbrink, Dean A. Knobloch
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Patent number: 9624650Abstract: A system associated with an implement of a machine is provided. The system includes a ground speed detection module configured to generate a signal indicative of a ground speed of the machine. The system further includes an implement control module coupled to the ground speed detection module. The implement control module receives the signal indicative of the ground speed of the machine. The implement control module detects at least one of the ground speed of the machine being less than a predetermined speed threshold and a rate of change of the ground speed being above a limit. The implement control module determines a presence of an obstruction in a path of the machine based, at least in part, on the detection. The implement control module further select a movement from a plurality of movements associated with the implement and triggers the movement of the implement.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2015Date of Patent: April 18, 2017Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventor: Kenneth L. Stratton
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Patent number: 9624643Abstract: A work vehicle may comprise a chassis, a ground-engaging blade, a sensor assembly, and a controller. The ground-engaging blade may be movably connected to the chassis via a linkage configured to allow the blade to be tilted relative to the chassis. The sensor assembly may be connected to the work vehicle and configured to provide a tilt signal indicative of an angle of the blade in a roll direction and a roll signal indicative of a rotational velocity of the blade in the roll direction. The controller may be configured to determine a target tilt angle, receive the tilt signal, receive the roll signal, and send a command to tilt the blade toward the target tilt angle, the command based on the tilt signal, the roll signal, and the target tilt angle.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2015Date of Patent: April 18, 2017Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventors: Scott S. Hendron, Brian C. Proeber, Bryan Rausch, Travis Wiens, Jeff Dobchuk, George W. Bozdech
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Patent number: 9617712Abstract: An excavator machine that includes components such as: a suspended casing having a top end and a bottom end; at least one cable that extends above the casing, where the cable is under tension and has a bottom end that is fastened to the top end of the casing; and a cutter device that is arranged at the bottom end of the casing. The excavator machine further includes: a carriage that is mounted to slide along the cable; a device for moving the carriage along the cable; and a locator device for determining the three-dimensional position of the carriage.Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 2014Date of Patent: April 11, 2017Assignee: SOLETANCHE FREYSSINETInventors: Bertrand Steff de Verninac, Daniel Perpezat, Jean-Pierre Hamelin
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Patent number: 9615496Abstract: A cutting unit for a disc harrow and/or a seed coulter. The cutting unit includes a cutting blade rotatably mounted about a rotation axis, and a stripping device for stripping earth accumulated on the cutting blade, wherein the stripping device has at least one stripping arm rotatably mounted about the rotation axis.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2015Date of Patent: April 11, 2017Assignee: Kverneland Group Les Landes Genusson S.A.S.Inventors: Gaetan Pasquier, Arnaud Sechet
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Patent number: 9615500Abstract: An agricultural tillage implement includes a main section including a hitch extending in a travel direction, a plurality of foldable wing sections coupled with the main section, at least one auxiliary implement assembly coupled to each of the wing sections and a control system. Each auxiliary implement assembly includes at least one support member, at least one pivotal arm pivotally coupled to the support member, at least one actuator coupled to both the support member and the pivotal arm and a ground contacting implement coupled to the pivotal arm. The control system is configured to actuate the actuators to control a position of each ground contacting implement in each of the sections when the agricultural implement is transitioning to a transport mode.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2014Date of Patent: April 11, 2017Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLCInventors: Matthew R. Sudbrink, Dean A. Knobloch
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Patent number: 9611596Abstract: A hand-guided ground compacting machine, such as, in particular, a vibration tamper, a vibratory roller or a vibratory plate, comprising a driving engine mounted on a machine frame, a ground compaction device driven by the driving engine, and a guide bar. Features of the present invention reside in that the driving engine is a liquid gas powered driving engine and that the ground compacting machine comprises at least one storage container for liquid gas which is replaceably disposed in a storage container holding means on the hand-guided ground compacting machine.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2013Date of Patent: April 4, 2017Assignee: BOMAG GmbHInventors: Jost Becker, Albertus Krings
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Patent number: 9609799Abstract: An agricultural implement having agricultural implement for supporting a plurality of gangs of disk blades extending generally laterally relative to a forward travel direction. The implement has carrier frames pivotally connected to wheel assemblies for controlling the height of the carrier frames relative to the ground through hydraulic actuators acting on the wheel assemblies. A hydraulic control unit enables independent and individual control of each actuator through the use of three way valves that selectively connect or lock individual actuators.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2014Date of Patent: April 4, 2017Assignee: CNH Industrial Canada, Ltd.Inventor: James W. Henry
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Patent number: 9609800Abstract: An agricultural implement having agricultural implement for supporting a plurality of gangs of disk blades extending generally laterally relative to a forward travel direction. The implement has carrier frames pivotally connected to wheel assemblies for controlling the height of the carrier frames relative to the ground through hydraulic actuators acting on the wheel assemblies. The hydraulic control unit enables independent and individual control of each actuator. An electronic control unit (ECU) receives signals from a series of inclinometers where each inclinometer signal is compared to the others and the individual actuator operated to bring the actuators into in uniform synchronization.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2014Date of Patent: April 4, 2017Assignee: CNH Industrial Canada, Ltd.Inventor: James W. Henry
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Patent number: 9605393Abstract: A milling machine includes a frame, a rotor coupled to the frame and vertically adjustable, a chamber coupled to the frame and at least partially surrounding the rotor, a speed sensor configured to measure a speed of the machine, a height sensor configured to measure a height of the rotor, a ground characteristic sensor configured to measure a ground characteristic, and a controller. The controller is configured to receive the speed of the machine from the speed sensor, receive the height of the rotor from the height sensor, receive the ground characteristic from the ground characteristic sensor, determine a target speed for the machine, determine a target height for the rotor, adjust the speed of the machine to the target speed, and adjust the height of the rotor to the target height.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2015Date of Patent: March 28, 2017Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.Inventors: Brian J. Schlenker, Jason W. Muir
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Patent number: 9598824Abstract: A system for controlling the production of an asphalt mix. The preferred system comprises an asphaltic material source, an asphaltic material sensor, a liquid asphalt cement source, a liquid asphalt cement meter, and a controller. The asphaltic material sensor communicates the amount of asphaltic material liquid asphalt cement and the amount of asphaltic material moisture contained in the amount of asphaltic material to the controller, the liquid asphalt cement meter communicates the amount of liquid asphalt cement provided by the liquid asphalt cement source to the controller, and the controller controls the amount of asphaltic material provided by the asphaltic material source and the amount of the liquid asphalt cement provided by the liquid asphalt cement source. A method comprising controlling the amount of asphaltic material and the amount of liquid asphalt cement provided to the asphalt mix substantially continuously and substantially in real time.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2016Date of Patent: March 21, 2017Assignee: Astec, Inc.Inventor: Malcolm L. Swanson
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Patent number: 9597252Abstract: A tactile plate assembly used as a tactile warning device on walkways comprises a plurality of tactile plates with texture for providing tactile awareness. A bracket connects first and second tactile plates to each other. The brackets include holes of sufficient size to allow a substrate such as concrete or asphalt to flow therethrough to anchor the tactile plate assembly in place.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2016Date of Patent: March 21, 2017Assignee: Pioneer Detectable, LLCInventor: Warren Bub
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Patent number: 9585300Abstract: A folding agricultural implement including a plurality of tilling sections and a hinge system. The tilling sections include first and second tilling sections, with the second tilling section being pivotally coupled to the first tilling section about a first pivot axis. The hinge is system coupled to both tilling sections. The hinge system includes a link, an actuator, at least one wheel and a ramp system. The link is pivotally coupled to the first tilling section about a second pivot axis. The actuator has a pivoting connection on each end with one pivoting connection being coupled to the second tilling section and the other pivoting connection is coupled to the link, with the actuator having a range of travel. The wheel is rotationally coupled to the link. The ramp system is configured for the wheel to traverse thereover for a portion of the range of travel of the actuator.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2014Date of Patent: March 7, 2017Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLCInventors: Matthew R. Sudbrink, Dean A. Knobloch
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Patent number: 9585298Abstract: A tillage implement spanning a lateral distance relative to a forward direction and having a plurality of carrier frames, each for supporting a plurality of soil engaging tools. A pivoting wheel assembly positions the carrier frames at a variable distance from the soil and an actuator is connected between the carrier frame and each support wheel assembly to vary the height of the carrier frame. The actuator has a sensor for generating a signal reflecting the displacement of the actuator. The sensor element is mounted in an adjustable sensor support and countersunk by the required clearance between the sensor element and encoded information on the output shaft so that the sensor support may be adjusted to abut the shaft and accurately position the sensor element.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2014Date of Patent: March 7, 2017Assignee: CNH Industrial Canada, Ltd.Inventors: James W. Henry, Mark Wileniec
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Patent number: 9587404Abstract: An operable ramp is moveable between a raised (step) position and a lowered (ramp) position. The operable ramp includes a first panel rotatably coupled about a first axis, the first axis that moves back and forth as the operable ramp reciprocates between the raised and lowered positions. A second panel is rotatably coupled to the first panel and extends downward from the first panel in the raised position. The second panel also rotates about a fixed second axis. The first and second panels cooperate to provide an inclined surface when the operable ramp is in the lowered position. A linkage selectively rotates the first panel about the first axis. The operable ramp further includes a third panel rotatable about a fixed third axis. The third provides a surface between the first panel and a fixed panel when the operable ramp is in the raised position.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2016Date of Patent: March 7, 2017Assignee: Lift-U, Division of Hogan Mfg., Inc.Inventor: George Franco
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Patent number: 9580910Abstract: An operable ramp is moveable between a raised position, in which the ramp forms a pair of steps, and a lowered position, in which the operable ramp provides an inclined surface. The operable ramp includes a first panel rotatably coupled about a first axis that moves back and forth when the operable ramp moves between the lowered position and the raised position. A link is rotatably coupled to the first panel about a second axis and is itself rotatable about a fixed third axis. A second panel is rotatably coupled to the link between the second axis and the third axis, and a third panel is rotatably coupled to the second panel about a fourth axis. When the ramp moves between the raised and lowered positions, the fourth axis rotates about a fixed fifth axis. A linkage selectively rotates the first panel about the first axis.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2015Date of Patent: February 28, 2017Assignee: Lift-U, division of Hogan Mfg. Inc.Inventors: Donald Morris, George Franco, David Johnson
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Patent number: 9580915Abstract: A method of imprinting a visual and textural pattern upon a concrete surface. The method includes configuring a decorative finishing tool to define a particular visual and textural pattern. An exposed surface of a concrete mixture is finished to dispose a quantity of cement/fines paste derived from the concrete mixture at the exposed surface thereof. The exposed surface of the concrete mixture is further finished with the decorative finishing tool to imprint the visual and textural pattern upon the exposed surface, with at least a portion of the decorative finishing tool being troweled over the exposed surface to create the visual and textural pattern in the concrete.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2016Date of Patent: February 28, 2017Assignee: Lithocrete, Inc.Inventor: Ronald D. Shaw